Marcus Mariota shines on Letterman

Kobe Bryant out for Lakers' matchup with Kings due to ankle injury

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will not play in the team's matchup with the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, Lakers.com's Mike Trudell reported. Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni had said Bryant would be a game-time decision.

Bryant badly sprained his left ankle last Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks, in a play that became controversial and that the NBA later admitted should have been called a foul. Bryant returned to play Friday night for the Lakers' contest against the Indiana Pacers, but he could only muster 12 minutes while going 0 for 4 from the field. The Lakers still won the game, 99-93.

The Lakers come into Sunday night's game with a 0.5-game lead on the Utah Jazz for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Kobe Bryant will NOT play tonight; the ankle is sore/stiff enough that he won't even test it out.